News: Celebrating more than 100 years of military service

Maj. Gen. Stephen R. Lyons, commanding general for the 8th Theater Sustainment Command, hands Norman Wong, the supervisor of inventory management for the 8th TSC’s Support Operations Munitions and retired Air Force senior master sergeant, the Civilian Time-in-Service Award for his 45 years of service to the United States, Jan. 16, at the Hale Ikena, Fort Shafter, Hawaii. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Gaelen Lowers, 8th Theater Sustainment Command Public Affairs)

FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii – The 8th Theater Sustainment Command took the time, Jan. 16, to recognize two Department of the Army civil service employees for their combined 103 years of military service at the Hale Ikena, Fort Shafter, Hawaii.

William Fortner, retired Army command sergeant major, and Norman Wong, retired Air Force senior master sergeant, both work in the 8th TSC’s Support Operations Munitions Branch and were each honored with the 50 Year Civilian Time-in-Service Award.

Fortner who is currently serving as the Army representative for the demilitarization of munitions for the Pacific theater, retired after 30 years of active duty service.

He joined the Army in Princeton, Ind., in 1956 with a group of his friends.

“I love to travel and meet new, interesting people,” Fortner said. “I’ve had some good assignments and the pay was right. It was a good solid job.”

Wong, an Oahu native, is currently the supervisor of inventory management. He enlisted in the Air Force after high school in 1962 right into the Vietnam War.

“You spend your entire adult life doing something, it just seems right to give back to the military that has given so much to me and my family,” Wong said.

Both gentlemen were deeply honored and humbled by the award. They both said that they loved their country and would continue working for it for as long as they were able to.

Maj. Gen. Stephen R. Lyons, commanding general for the 8th TSC and who presented the awards, joked that the two couldn’t let one outdo the other.

Lyons said that each man’s resume was very impressive and that the work they have accomplished during their time with the 8th TSC was a testament to their dedication to the unit, the military, and the United States of America.

“It was an honor to pause and honor both of these men,” Lyons said. “You have both served your nation with extraordinary distinction and we’re proud to have you both on the team.”